New York Experience Portfolio

Table of Contents

Me & NYC

The New York Experience Portfolio

Mission Statement

Pursuing a high school education in New York City limited by the walls of a building would be to lose sight of the vast learning experiences waiting outside of those walls.  Therefore, it has been the effort of Landmark High School to establish a New York Experience curriculum that explores the meaningful and relevant learning opportunities the city has to offer.  Throughout this school’s history, the goal of the New York Experience curriculum has been twofold: First, to foster a sense of trust and community within each advisory; and second, to develop an understanding and appreciation of the cultural and historical richness of the incredible city in which we live.  It is both the enormous depth and breadth of this richness that we wish to explore with the current New York Experience curriculum. The curriculum is academically meaningful, leading to the completion of a Graduation Portfolio, and relevant, reflecting the tremendous variety of experiences that coexist in New York City.

We live in a city that has been home to artists ranging from Norman Rockwell to Andy Warhol; musicians from Wynton Marsalis to Fifty Cent (or Itzhak Perlman to Joey Ramone); films with depictions that range from Do the Right Thing to Annie Hall; architecture from gothic to art deco; from The Cloister’s medieval history to Sony Wonder’s latest technology.  Given the incredible variety of experiences New York City has to offer, it is vital that the New York Experience Curriculum reflects a similar variety of activities and opportunities for learning.

 NYC Experience Portfolio Outline

Cover Letter

§       Include a piece of writing that briefly introduces yourself to the reader and explains what the reader will see in your portfolio and how and why these topics connect (for example: Why did you choose to write about those particular field trips?).

§       This can be about a page.  While this is the first part of the portfolio it should be written last.

Part 1: How you have experienced New York City so far in your life?:

§       Include a piece of writing that explores some of your ideas and what you’ve learned and understood about your neighborhood and where you live. 

§       This should be 1-2 pages.

Part 2: What ideas, thoughts and questions have I gained from my field trips?

(Do this for at least 4 of the 5 categories: Art, Architecture and Landmarks, Environment, History, Film)

§       Include writing about what you thought, felt and questioned about each field trip category before you began your New York Experience Field trips 

§       Include one image from a field trip in each category  (this could be your own drawing, a photograph, a picture from a brochure, etc.)

§       Lastly, include what you learned, felt, understood, questioned, etc. about this place and/ or category after your field trips.  Why was this trip interesting?  How did your ideas change after going on this trip?

§       Each category should be about 2-4 paragraphs of writing (information presented from this section should almost entirely come from field trip notes and field trip handouts.

Part 3: The short research Presentation: What do I want to know more about?

§       Research a specific topic of interest to you from one of the categories (Art, Architecture and Landmarks, Environment, History, Film) and prepare a presentation about this topic.

§       (This will be presented to your advisor, ninth graders from another advisory, and possibly some other guests)

Part 4:The Conclusion (part of Cover Letter?)

§       Include a conclusion for your entire portfolio by discussing in writing:

§       What have I learned about NYC from these trips?  What kinds of activities and places seem interesting to me now in NYC?  What are questions I have left? etc.

§       This can be 1-2 paragraphs

Part 1

How Have I Experienced New York City so Far?

This Section Includes:

 

Teacher Notes: Neighborhood Map

Neighborhood Map Handout

Neighborhood Writing Prompts

“Working with my Free-Write Drafts” Handout

Peer Response for Neighborhood writing Handout

End of Unit Portfolio Goal: v    Part 1: How you have experienced New York City so far in your life?: Include a piece of writing that explores some of your ideas and what you’ve learned and understood about where you live.

 Teacher Notes for Neighborhood Map Activity

Directions for the Teacher:

For some students, making a visual of their neighborhood map will help them when they start writing about their neighborhood.  This is no longer a requirement for the portfolio.

The following page is a handout for students to begin work on their neighborhood map.  It’s a good idea for the teacher to model the making of his or her own map first on the chalkboard or overhead.

1.     Draw the streets around your apartment/ building/ house.

2.     Add in a few other things near your residence and comment on why you put them there (example: “This is a bakery where I always buy bread”) – Don’t dwell too much on this, it isn’t the most interesting part..

3.     The go into the other spots in any order you like “This is where the garbage piles up and I never walk past here because it smells like rotten food…This is where I start my jog because there is a good view…This is a memory spot because… etc. 

(You should think ahead of time about what you are going to draw so you have some interesting anecdotes or ideas to go with you map)

Materials &Notes: 

Have 8 x11 computer paper available.

If you have rulers and colored pencils, bring them out!  If not, have something else handy the students can use as a straight edge. 

Neighborhood Map Handout

(How Have You Experienced New York City so far in Your Life?)

We learn a great deal from the places in which we live and grow up.  We walk past people and places in our neighborhood and sometimes they affect us and sometimes we don’t give them a second thought.  Take some time to develop your personalized map of your neighborhood. 

§       With a ruler, pencil and blank sheet of paper draw a street map of your neighborhood.  It should include roughly a two-block radius around your apartment/ building/house.

§       Once you have drawn in the streets and labeled them, add in stores, restaurants, buildings, parks, parking lots, schools or other things located on the area of your map that stand out to you.

§       Now make the neighborhood yours! Add in and label some of the following:

§       Spots with a significant smell

§       Spots with a significant taste

§       Spots with a significant sight

§       Spots with a significant sound

§       Places where significant friends or relatives live

§       Places that hold a special memory

§       Places that are dangerous or scary spots

§       Places that you frequent regularly (subway stop, particular store, court where you play basketball, etc.)

§       Places that seem artistic or hold beauty to you

§       Places that have historical meaning to you or the neighborhood

§       Other ideas?

Notes:

When labeling your spots, don’t put something generic like “smell spot”.  Label what it is like “Greasy but delicious smell of Ray’s pizza”

Try to be neat with your handwriting so you can add in more!

Writing Around My Neighborhood

(How Have You Experienced New York City Thus far in Your Life?)

Writing Around My Neighborhood: Guided free-write # 1      Sometimes we gloss over important aspects of or lives, because we are so busy or caught up in daily routines and stresses.  Now you have a chance to describe a part of your life and then be thoughtful about it.  Try to write quietly for at least 10 minutes without stopping, just let all the ideas in your brain pour out! Look at the neighborhood map you created.  What is one memory or story that involves one of your “memory spots” This memory could involve any kinds of emotion, happy, sad scary, etc.  What happened at that time?  What was that day like?  What were you thinking and feeling at that time?  What do you think and feel about this memory now?  Did this memory affect the way you see you neighborhood?

Writing Around My Neighborhood: Guided free-write # 2      Try to write quietly for at least 10 minutes without stopping, just let all the ideas in your brain pour out! Don’t worry all the questions, just use the ones that help your ideas get out. Look at the neighborhood map you created.  If a friend or relative your age,  who had never been to your neighborhood arrived, what would they see, feel, smell, taste and experience.   --  If you were explaining your neighborhood, what else would you want them to know?  What information should they understand?  What places should they experience? What people do you think they should meet? What would they only know if they had you as their guide? What things would you not share with them?  What questions would you ask them?

Writing Around My Neighborhood: Guided free-write # 3      Try to write quietly for at least 10 minutes  without stopping, just let all the ideas in your brain pour out! Don’t worry about all the questions, just use the ones that seem helpful.  Who is a person who makes you neighborhood special?  This could be a mean character you see on the streets, a nice older person who always sits on their stoop, a particular neighborhood friend you always hang out with, etc.  What is one story, memory or interaction that stand out to you involving this person?  Feel free to include deals about what the day was like, what they look like and sounds like, what dialogue you may have exchanged with that person etc.  What questions do you have in your mind about this person? How did you feel about them then and now?  How is he/s he unique in your neighborhood?

Working with my Free-Write Drafts:

Writing Around My Neighborhood

Here is your chance to let your story become more alive!  You can let the reader get to know you, understand your ideas and imagine what a certain moment was like. 

Writing can be arranged in an infinite amount of ways.  However, we are going to work with the following pieces that we will weave together.

Step 1: Choosing

§       Look through your neighborhood free-writes and choose the one that feels most important to you, the one you have the strongest feelings about.

Step 2: Imagine, Explore Your Memory & Describe

At the beginning describe the event, experience or story by showing us rather than telling us what happened.  Consider using:

• Setting description: What was that day like?  What were the sounds, smells, sights, feelings of that day (this is also a good place for metaphors!)
• Dialogue: if there were words exchanged, use dialogue to describe what happened.
• Show not tell Description:  Work on saying things like, “I clamped my jaw tight and felt my fists gather into a ball (rather than “I was mad”).
• (At this point, let’s do some peer response to get feedback)

Step 3:  (Thoughts and Feelings you had THEN)*

§       Feelings:  What were you feeling at the time?

§       Thoughts and Questions:  What questions and thoughts were going through your mind.  What were you wondering about at that time? 

Step 4: (Thoughts and Feelings you have NOW)*

§       What do you realize and/ or understand now?

§       If you could relive part of this experience is there anything that you would do over?

§       What have you learned about yourself or your life through this experience or aspect of your life?  How have you changed because of this experience

* (If you are revising free-write # 2, basically you just want to explore here a bit how your feelings and ideas about your neighborhood have changed)

Peer Response For 2nd Draft of Neighborhood Writing Pieces

Author’s Name:__________________                      Peer Responder:________________

Give energy to your friend’s paper!  Help your classmates be great writers!

• What is the line that you feel is the most descriptive: Copy it down.

• Ask a question about something visual (ex: What did ____ look like?)

• What is a question you can ask about a smell? (What did ____ smell like?)

• What is a question you can ask about a touch/ feeling or a taste?)

• Is there anything confusing about the story, something you didn’t understand?

• What are questions that you can ask about feelings and thoughts (like what were you thinking when..?, or How did you feel about…  Or I’m still wondering?

Part 2a - Me, NYC & Art

This section includes:

Initial Thoughts Handout

Generic Field Trip Form

Specific Field Trip Forms

Portfolio Page Assignment Guide

Me, NYC & Art

Initial Thoughts

Do this before your first Art trip

At the beginning of the year:

Living in New York City, what art do you see/experience around you? _______________

Why do you consider these things “art?” ______________________________________

How would life be different if art did not exist? _________________________________

Why do people from all over the world come to NYC to see and make art? ___________

Me, NYC & Art

NY Experience Generic Art Field Trip Form

1.     The destination of the art exhibit / piece is _______________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

2.     The name of the art exhibit(s) / piece(s) is ________________________________

3.     The exhibit / piece was created by __________________________, who is from

_________in ____________ or during (time period) ________________________.

4.     How is this art piece related to your studies at Landmark High School? Did you come across this topic in your classes?

5.     Describe the art piece / exhibit which you are viewing in your own words:

a)     What form is it (statue, painting, mural, photo, etc…) _____________________

b)  What are you looking at exactly? Describe what you see in front of you.

6.     What feelings does this art piece / exhibit bring up when you look at it?

 

Me, NYC & Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Ancient Egypt Collection

1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street

Directions: Take 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street and walk 3 blocks west to Fifth Avenue

1. List four ideas you know about the ancient Egyptian culture.

§       List three pieces that prove that ancient Egypt was a polytheistic society – provide specific names and give a description of the pieces you are viewing. (polytheistic means believing in more than one god/ goddess)

§       Find two pieces that show how the ancient Egyptians were a River Valley culture – how did they use the river?

§       Ancient Egyptian culture is described as a very technological and sophisticated (refined and highly complex) society. Looking at the art and artifacts – do you agree or disagree? List specific pieces and explain your answer (3-4 sentences).

§       What is the most impressive piece in the Egyptian collection that you are viewing? WHY?

After the trip:

Using your notes from the Friday trip, write about what you learned about ancient Egypt. Some topics are:

·      Religion of the Ancient Egyptians

·      Social Structure of the Ancient Egyptians

·      Living in Ancient Egyptian times

·      Art of the Ancient Egyptians

Me, NYC, & Art

Cloisters Fieldtrip Form

Directions: Take the mid-train A uptown to 190^th St. and the elevator to the street. Turn right on the street when you get out and walk through the park and uphill to the Cloisters. There are signs.

Before you go:

Name ____________________________________              Date ________________

Have you ever been to The Cloisters or Fort Tryon Park before?   YES / NO

What do you expect to see? ________________________________

Predict what this place has to do with the idea of “Art?” _______________________

Why/how is this place important or significant to NYC? ______________________

_______________________________________________

On the trip: Get a floor-plan brochure from the front desk so you know where to go.

What is a cloister?

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

What purpose does a cloister have or did it have originally? ____________________

_______________________________________________

The Cloisters is a museum dedicated to medieval Europe. List 5 countries that are represented here. ____________________________________________________________________

What is the earliest date you can find? _______________________________________

What is the latest/most recent date you can find? _______________________________

Go look at the main Cuxa cloister in the center and the St. Guilhem cloister. If it is not open, look at the picture. In what 2 ways are they similar?

In what 2 ways are they different?

Find the 6 large unicorn tapestries. Give a brief description in your own words of the story the tapestries are telling.

What shoes are the people wearing in the tapestries? ___________________________

Where are these tapestries from? __________________________________________

What is one thing you like about them? _____________________________________

What is one thing you think is weird about them? _____________________________

________________________________________________

Who are the 9 heroes in the room of the 9 heroes? ______________________________

How are they represented as heroic? _________________________________________

Go down to the lower level. What is one unique thing about:

a) the Trie cloister _______________________________________________________

b) the Bonnefort cloister __________________________________________________

How many different kinds of columns are there in the Trie cloister? Describe them:

Take a picture of one of the cloisters and label it here:

Who owns the Cloisters? _____________________________

Who designed them?  ________________________________

After the trip:

Describe how this trip taught you something or introduced you to something about an aspect of art which was new to you. Possible ideas to use are: time periods, countries or regions, architecture form and function, art forms (painting, sculpture, tapestries), religion, myths … or use your own idea.

If you are having trouble starting your description, think about this structure:

On my trip to _____________I realized/learned some things about art in New York City. I learned _____________, _____________, and _____________, which all relate to (chosen aspect). These facts made me think _____________. I also felt _____________ about this aspect of art because _____________. Keep going!

Me, NYC, & Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art Fieldtrip Form for Modern Art

Directions: Take the N/R train uptown to Lexington.  Transfer to the 4,5,or 6 train uptown to 86^th St.  Walk west to Fifth Ave. and south to 82^nd St.  The group entrance is on the south side of the building (about 80^th St.) walking into Central Park.

Before you go:

Name______________________________________                       Date______________

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘Modern Art?’ ______________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Describe at least one piece of modern art that you have seen.  ______________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What do you know about Pablo Picasso and/or his art?  ___________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

On the trip:  Go to the Modern Art section of the museum

Find at least four pieces of art by Pablo Picasso and state the title, when it was made, and where it was made.

TITLE                                     WHEN                                    WHERE

1.     ______________________          ___________              _________________

2.     ______________________          ___________              _________________

3.     ______________________          ___________              _________________

4.     ______________________          ___________              _________________

Choose the piece of art (from the above list: ___________________) that you either like the most or the least, and respond to the following:

Briefly describe the painting:             

• What does it represent (who or what is it of?) _____________________________

            __________________________________________________________________

• Describe what it looks like (colors, shapes, dark, light, etc) __________________

            __________________________________________________________________

            __________________________________________________________________

            __________________________________________________________________

• What is realistic about it, what is unrealistic? _____________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

How do you relate to the painting?

• How would you describe the tone of the painting (happy, sad, angry, etc.)?

__________________________________________________________________

• What about the painting makes you feel this way (colors, lightness darkness, facial expressions, etc.)?  _____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

• Look carefully at the painting and choose one section of it that you like, dislike, or that bothers you.  Describe this section and why you feel the way you do. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Do you like this piece of art or dislike it?  Why?  __________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Similar art:

• Look around the rooms you are in and find at least two pieces of art that remind you of Picasso’s art.  For each: state the artist, the title, when it was made, and where it was made. 

ARTIST                      TITLE                         WHEN                        WHERE

a)_______________   _______________      __________    __________________

b)_______________   _______________      __________    __________________

• Describe how the art is similar and how it is different.  _____________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• One of Picasso’s influences was African art.  Go to the section of the museum with African Art (across the hall from the Modern Art section) and find at least one piece of African art that reminds you of Picasso’s Art and for one piece state the title, when it was made, and where it was made.

ARTIST                      TITLE                         WHEN                        WHERE

________________    ________________    _________      __________________

• Why does it remind you of Picasso?  ____________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

After the trip:

One way of understanding art is as a form of communication between the artist and the people who look at the art. Choose one of the paintings that you have seen and describe what you think Picasso was trying to tell you about both the subject of the painting and about himself?  One way to answer this is to start by describing what thoughts and emotions you felt as you looked at the art and then whether you think these thoughts and emotions are what Picasso hoped people who saw his art would think or feel.

Me, NYC, & Art

ACE Art Gallery Field Trip  - 275 Hudson Street

 

Directions: Take the Downtown A or C train to the West 4^th street.  Get out and Transfer (on that same platform) to the Downtown E train.  Get out at the  Spring Street stop.  Walk west on Spring St. for 1 or 2 blocks and then turn left (south) onto Hudson Street. 

Before you go:

§       What do you think is the purpose of art?  Why do artist create it?  Why do people lie to experience/ see it?

§       What are some general guidelines you think a person should follow in an art gallery in general?

On the Trip:

§       Examine and explore one exhibit that seems interesting to you, what emotions do you think it is trying to give the viewer?  Explain.

Name of exhibit:                                                          name of artist:

§       Approach one exhibit that seems very visual to you.  Do a sketch of it here below

Name of exhibit:                                                    name of artist:

• Approach/ explore and examine another exhibit.  If you were interviewing the artist of this exhibit, what questions would you want to ask him/her?

Name of exhibit:                                                          name of artist:

• Approach/ explore and examine another exhibit.  Imagine the creation itself could speak.  What would your conversation with it be like.  Make a dialogue between you and the creation (Don’t be boring, here’s you chance o use your imagination!)  

Name of exhibit:                                                          name of artist:

The Creation:

Me:

The Creation:

Me:

The Creation:

At the end of your trip: If you asked ACE Art Gallery what the purpose of art is,  what do you think they might say?  How has your ideas about are changed or been affected?

Me, NYC & Art

THE POINT and BAAD  (Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance)

THE POINT CDC 940 Garrison Avenue Bronx, NY  10474 (718) 542-4139

Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance 841 Barreto Street, 2nd Floor Bronx, NY 10474 (718) 842-5223

By Subway: Take the 6 train to Hunts Point Avenue. Walk under the Bruckner Expressway (right in front of you when you exit the train station onto Hunts Point Avenue) and make a right turn at the first light onto Garrison Avenue. THE POINT is on the corner of Garrison and Manida Street (the first street on your left walking on Garrison). BAAD is on Barretto Street, the second street on your left walking on Garrison, between Garrison and Lafayette.

Before you go:          

Name: ______________________                             Date: ______________________

Weather: ______________________

Have you ever been to this place before?       YES / NO

What do you already know about the history of Hip Hop?

What do you already know about New York Latin music

On the trip: Note: If you have a camera, take pictures of this structure

Where are you as you write this?_____________________________________________

Name as many musical (or dance) styles as you can that were invented or personalized in the Bronx:

Who were the Mambo Kings?_______________________________________________

What were three of the main dance clubs from the 1940’s to the 1960’s?______________

________________________________________________________________________

What are the names of some South Bronx neighborhoods?_________________________

After the trip:

Choose one aspect from the “Art” list below, and describe how this trip taught you something or introduced you to something new about it.  Possible ideas are:

§       location

§       invention of a new style

§       originality

§       many cultures mixing together

§       cultural history (the history of a people)

See this website for background information: http://www.thepoint.org/aboutus/aboutus.html http://www.caravanmusic.com/GuideLatinMusic.htm

If you are having trouble starting your description, think about (but do not copy) this structure:

            On my trip to ____________________ I realized/learned some things

about the Bronx and its role in music history.  I learned about ____________

, ______________ , and __________________ , which

all relate to (chosen aspect).  Learning about these new things made me

think ____________________________________ .  I thought ___________

was interesting because ______________________________ .

Me, NYC, & Art

Portfolio Page Assignment Guide

1. Write an introduction about your feelings and thoughts about the relationship between NYC and art based on your responses to the questions above from the beginning of the year before you went on any trips. Look through your “Initial Thoughts” assignment to help you. You should address the following questions:

What do you think “art” is? What kinds of art are there? What is the role of art in our lives? What is the role of New York City in the art world?

2.  Choose one fieldtrip that you went on that was related to art in some way.

From your art fieldtrip assignment form, include:

A.  A description of the trip: We went to destination on date. I had/had not been there before. Before I went, I thought it would be expectations. I thought destination was related to the idea of NYC art because predictions. I thought it was important to NYC because significance. One/some of the artist(s) involved were ______. One/some of the pieces of art were called ______.

B.  A reflection on your understanding of the relationship between NYC and art: It must include a description of what you saw and experienced on your trip and what you learned from that. Use your fieldtrip assignment form to help you.

C.  Labeled photos from your trip or related images: Describe why you included them.

3.  Write a conclusion explaining how your thoughts or ideas about NYC and art have changed or developed since the beginning of your 9th grade year. Look over all your art fieldtrip forms to help you write a general conclusion for this section . You should address the following questions:

What new forms or types of art have you experienced through the year(s) of fieldtrips you have taken? How have your ideas about art changed? Is there anything that you now think of as art that you didn’t think was art before — why or why not?

Part 2b - Me, NYC & Environment

This Section Includes:

Initial Thoughts Handout

Generic Field Trip Form

Specific Field Trip Forms

Portfolio Page Assignment Guide

Me, NYC & Environment

Initial Thoughts

Do this before your first Environment trip

At the beginning of the year:

When you think of the New York City “Environment,” what comes to mind?

When you move around New York City from home to school and back or on Friday field trips, what parts of the environment do you experience?

What problems does NYC’s environment have?

What are some things that people do to take care of their environments?

Me, NYC & Environment

Generic Environment Fieldtrip Form

Before you go:

Name _________________________________                    Date _________________

When you think of the New York City Environment, what comes to mind?

Season: ______________________________________________________________

Weather: _____________________________________________________________

Destination ___________________________________________________________

Have you ever been to this place before?   YES / NO

What do you expect to see?

Predict what this place has to do with the idea of “Environment?”

Why/how is this place important or significant to NYC?

On the trip:

Where are you?  INDOORS / OUTDOORS - Stand in a central spot, and turn around in a circle. Describe what you see as you turn all the way around.

How are you learning about or experiencing the environment on this trip?

State three facts that you learned:

If you have a camera, take two pictures, from two different perspectives, of things you find on your trip. You can do a close-up, a shot looking down on something, a picture from underneath, one from far away, or whatever. Label your pictures here:

After the trip: - Choose one aspect from the “Environment” list below, and describe how this trip taught you something or introduced you to something about that aspect of the environment which was new to you. Possible ideas to use are: Physical setting, Wildlife, Plants, Animals, Natural history, Public health, Conservation, Pollution, Recycling, , Limited resources, Parks, Reserves … or use your own idea.

If you are having trouble starting your description, think about this structure:

On my trip to _____________I realized/learned some things about my environment in New York City. I learned _____________, _____________, and _____________, which all relate to (chosen aspect). These facts made me think _____________. I also felt _____________ about this aspect of the environment because _____________.
Me, NYC, & Environment

Central Park — Belvedere Castle Fieldtrip Form

Directions: Walk north up the west side of the park (on the side or through the Ramble) to Belvedere Castle. Or take the B or C train to 81st St. and walk into the park there. Nature Center inside.

Before you go:

Name _________________________________                    Date _________________

When you think of the New York City Environment, what comes to mind?

Season: _________________________              Weather: ________________________

Have you ever been to this place before?   YES / NO

What do you expect to see?

Predict what this place has to do with the idea of “Environment?”

Why/how is this place important or significant to NYC?

On the trip: While you are walking and around Belvedere Castle, use your “Colors of Fall” leaf guide to collect and identify at least 6 of the 12 leaves on the card. Keep them in an envelope. Take a picture of yourself with one of the leaves, the leaf card, and the tree that it came from.

(Outside) What is inside Belvedere Tower? ____________________________________

(Inside) What kinds of birds are there on the “birding tree” upstairs in the castle?

Find the weather station computer. Record the weather details.

(In the “Woods and Water Discovery Room”) Use the “Deciduous Trees of the Ramble” flowchart to find the Latin name of one of the leaves you found.

 Look through the telescope. Draw what you see.

Check out the living and previously living things on display. Pick one and draw it below:

What organization runs the Nature Center at Belvedere Castle? ____________________

What are 2 other things that this organization does?

After the trip:

Choose one aspect from the “Environment” list below, and describe how this trip taught you something or introduced you to something about that aspect of the environment which was new to you. Possible ideas to use are: Physical setting, Wildlife, Plants, Animals, Natural history, Public health, Conservation, Money or economics, Pollution, Recycling, Sanitation, Limited resources, Parks, Reserves … or use your own idea.

If you are having trouble starting your description, think about this structure:

On my trip to _____________I realized/learned some things about my environment in New York City. I learned _____________, _____________, and _____________, which all relate to (chosen aspect). These facts made me think _____________. I also felt _____________ about this aspect of the environment because _____________.

Me, NYC, & Environment

Bronx Zoo Fieldtrip Form

Directions: Take the 2 to East Tremont Av. Go down the stairs to Boston Rd. and walk straight (North, pass 179^th pass 180^th) 3 blocks to the Zoo. Enter at the Asia Gate.

Before you go:

Name _________________________________                    Date _________________

When you think of the New York City Environment, what comes to mind?

Season: _________________________              Weather: ________________________

Have you ever been to this place before?   YES / NO

What do you expect to see?

Predict what this place has to do with the idea of “Environment?”

Why/how is this place important or significant to NYC?

On the trip:  This trip has 2 parts. One part is Wild Asia Jungle World, near the gate where you enter. The other part can be anywhere else in the zoo of your choice.

Part ONE: At any exhibit of your choice outside Wild Asia Jungle World, draw an animal of your choice.

Describe the habitat of this animal (the place where it lives, including plants and other animals nearby).

What are 2 facts you learned about this animal?

What makes this animal unique or interesting to you?

How has this animal or this animal’s habitat/environment in nature been affected by humans?

Part TWO (Wild Asia Jungle World) (at entrance)

How fast is the jungle being destroyed? ______________________________________

What 4 types of forests can make up a jungle?

Where do jungles occur? ____________________________________________________________________

(inside) Describe 2 facts about the Binturong monkey.

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Describe 2 adaptations of the Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo that help it survive in the jungle.

(in the mangrove forest) What is this forest’s relationship to the sea?

Give 4 examples of plants or animals that ONLY live in mangrove forests.

What are the Ebony Langurs doing? Describe 3 activities or behaviors that you observe.

(in the rainforest) What makes a rainforest?

Describe 3 jungle products that you have in your life. What do they come from?

What are the Silver Leaf monkeys doing?

Draw a picture of the Malaysian Tapir.

What is the relationship between panthers and leopards?_______________________

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Where did cats originate? _______________________________________________

How many kinds of cats live in Asia now? __________________________________

Feel the trees around you. What do you think they are made of? __________________

Describe an insect in “The Unseen Multitudes:” (name, color, shape, size, legs?, wings?, habitat, place it’s from, behavior, food, etc.)

(down at the waterfall) Describe one type of fish or turtle that you can see. What makes it different from the other types you can see?

(outside at the exit) What is the human population right now? _____________________

How many acres of rainforest are there right now? ______________________________

Which number is going up and which one down? _______________________________

Which number is changing faster? __________________________________________

What do you think that this means for the future? ______________________________

After the trip:

What did you learn from the rainforest numbers and the human population numbers outside the Wild Asia Jungle World exhibit?

Why are zoos important to people? ___________________________________________

Why might zoos be important to animals?

What information was there at the zoo or what information do you have from your own experience about human impact on the environment?

Choose one aspect from the “Environment” list below, and describe how this trip taught you something or introduced you to something about that aspect of the environment which was new to you. Possible ideas to use are: Physical setting, Wildlife, Plants, Animals, Natural history, Public health, Conservation, Money or economics, Pollution, Recycling, Sanitation, Limited resources, Parks, Reserves … or use your own idea.

If you are having trouble starting your description, think about this structure:

On my trip to _____________I realized/learned some things about my environment in New York City. I learned _____________, _____________, and _____________, which all relate to (chosen aspect). These facts made me think _____________. I also felt _____________ about this aspect of the environment because _____________. Keep going!

Me, NYC, & Environment

(AMNH) Hall of New York State Environment Fieldtrip Form

Directions: Walk north up the west side of the park or take the B or C train to 81^st St. Go into the North entrance on 81^st St. and proceed to the Hall of New York State Environment.

Before you go:

Name _________________________________                    Date _________________

When you think of the New York City Environment, what comes to mind?

Season: _________________________              Weather: ________________________

Have you ever been to this place before?   YES / NO

What do you expect to see?

Predict what this place has to do with the idea of “Environment?”

Why/how is this place important or significant to NYC?

On the trip directions: The exercise is written from the West side of the exhibit to the East. For each display there are several questions or tasks to complete.

Geological History and Structure Describe in your own words how Stissing Mountain was formed.

When did this occur? ___________________________________________________

The Water Cycle: What is the chemical formula for water? ______________________

What role does the water table play in the water cycle?

How does deforestation impact the water cycle?